Curated OER
The Effects of Storms
An excellent way to review a chapter or unit on storms, this worksheet features vocabulary review (gust, evacuation, storm surge, salinity), concept review (effects and details about hurricanes), skills/process review (normal high tide...
Curated OER
We All Scream for Ice Cream
Students investigate the freezing point depression of water while making ice cream. In this colligative properties lesson plan, students make ice cream using ice, salt and water to freeze milk and sugar. They measure the temperature of...
Curated OER
Is the Hudson River Too Salty to Drink?
Students explore reasons for varied salinity in bodies of water. In this geographical inquiry lesson, students use a variety of visual and written information including maps, data tables, and graphs, to form a hypothesis as to why the...
Curated OER
Ready, Set, Let's Dough! It's a Matter of System
Young scholars explore physical sciences by participating in a class experiment. In this matter lesson plan, students identify the three forms of matter and their physical differences. Young scholars utilize cookie dough to create a play...
Curated OER
Antarctica: Effects of Salinity on Icebergs
Students investigate the effects of salinity on icebergs. In this hands on lesson, students design and conduct an investigation into how the amount of salt in ice affects its buoyancy.
Curated OER
Soil Properties
Young scholars explore the porosity of soil. In this soil lesson, students conduct an experiment which shows the porosity of different types of soil. They use sand, silt, and clay to see how soil particles are more or less aerated and...
Curated OER
Physical Science Review 5th Grade
In this review of physical science activity, students use recall to answer multiple choice questions about electricity and chemical changes. Students answer 25 questions.
Curated OER
Penny and Cup Game
Students perform activities to discover if one eye is better than two. They test their sense of sight with both monocular and binocular vision. Students drop a penny and see if it lands in the cup of water. They rely on their sense of...
Curated OER
Human Impact on Water Quality
Students identify at least three common repercussions of developing water front property on water quality. They describe three sources of water pollution. They research the organism striped bass and observe it if striped bass is available.
Curated OER
Rain Formation
First graders investigate the different water formations by conducting an experiment. For this water properties lesson, 1st graders examine jars filled with ice, rain water, air and snow in their class. Students predict what...
Michigan Sea Grant
Water Quality
Learners observe water samples and measure the samples' water quality. Students develop their own criteria for measuring water quality and test for temperature, acidity, oxygen levels, turbidity, conductance, sediment and hardness.
Curated OER
How Structure Can Affect Properties Through Phase Changes
Students discuss how changing the structure of atoms and molecules can change the properties of a substance. They brainstorm and review their own examples of phase change with the help of a phase change diagram. Students describe the...
Curated OER
As a Matter of Fact
Young scholars rotate through various hands-on experiment stations to explore the concept and properties of different types of matter. They compare some properties of solids, liquids and gases and describe how matter changes from one...
Curated OER
Solids and Water
Students investigate mixtures made of water and familiar solid materials. They observe and discuss the changes that occur immediately and set the mixtures aside for a day. Finally, students observe the mixtures, note changes, and graph...
Curated OER
The Structure of Materials
Students brainstorm what matter is and how they define it. They construct a water molecule with marshmallows and toothpicks. In addition, they watch videos to explore the use the idea of nanoscience to investigate the properties of...
Curated OER
Rate of Cooling Experiment
Ninth graders measure the insulation properties of different fabrics by immersing cans of water covered with fabric "socks" in an ice bath and measuring temperature changes. They then calculate heat loss and graph the data individually.
Curated OER
Periodic Table of the Elements
Students experiment with transition metals. In this transition metals instructional activity students find the common properties of transition metals and conduct an experiment using one of them. Students then answer questions...
Curated OER
Density of Liquids
Young scholars explore the density of liquids. In this scientific inquiry lesson plan, students discover the density of water, corn syrup, and cooking oil through an experiment. In addition, young scholars will draw and label pictures of...
NOAA
Ocean Zones
How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...
Curated OER
Midnight Dumpers
Students explain how pollution affects ground water. They participate in a simulation to discover the location of an illegal dump. Students explore the monetary benefits, risk and environmental concerns are factors in business decisions.
NASA
Melting Ice: Designing an Experiment
Sometimes, despite the best laid plans, the unexpected will occur. Learners witness this firsthand as they carefully design an experiment to determine the time needed for ice to melt in salt water or pure water. They uncover facts not...
Curated OER
Weathering and Soil Formation
A set of 27 slides systematically shows how weathering, erosion, and deposition contribute to soil formation. Both chemical and mechanical weathering are described, as are resulting soil layers and properties. There is no longer any need...
Cornell University
Nano What?
The size of a nanoparticle is difficult for pupils to grasp. A hands-on experiment is designed to give your classes perspective. Learners analyze different sports drinks for the content of electrolytes as an introduction to nanoscale....
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Creating and Testing Silver-Nanoparticle Socks
Antibacterial socks are a product of nanotechnology. An inquiry-based lesson asks collaborative groups to create their own antibacterial socks and then test them against other products on the market. The sock with the least amount...